The green mountains stretch far, by the banks of the Wuxi River.

The old tree at the entrance of the town was still there.

Were the roads in Shiliang Town a bit wider now?

Walking slowly through the market, Song Yan wore a bamboo hat and coarse linen clothes, looking every bit like a Jianghu martial artist.

Shiliang never lacked such martial artists, so he naturally didn’t attract too much attention.

He found a seat outside a teahouse and sat down.

"Waiter, tea."

"Coming right up!"

The waiter brewing tea was unfamiliar to Song Yan, quite young, perhaps a new hire in recent years.

Inside the teahouse, a storyteller recounted tales he had never heard.

The villagers around, drinking tea and listening to stories, occasionally chatted about town affairs.

Detective Ling had been transferred to the Six-Doors in the capital, a genuine promotion.

Old Xu’s only son had finally passed the imperial examinations; the Meng Family daughter had been taken to the Immortal Mountain by the Zhao Enshrinement to seek Immortality and the Dao.

The original county magistrate had also been transferred elsewhere, and now, the Shiliang Town county yamen, from top to bottom, had been completely replaced.

Song Yan didn’t plan to visit them one by one.

The villagers’ lives were peaceful and tranquil, no need to disturb them.

He would offer incense at his grandfather’s grave, then set off early.

Putting down his teacup, leaving some loose silver, Song Yan walked through Lampshade Street and headed up the green mountain.

In the mountains.

Looking at the familiar thatched cottage, Song Yan stopped.

The roof of the thatched cottage seemed to have been repaired, but the old wooden door was still as he remembered it.

"It seems after Meng Family Younger Sister left, Uncle Meng had a lot of free time."

The incense burner in front of his grandfather’s grave was very clean, clearly someone regularly cleaned it.

"Grandfather, your grandson is going down the mountain for a long journey this time; I probably won’t be back for a year or two."

He took three sticks of incense, lit them, and placed them on the grave mound.

Xiao He transformed into human form and bowed several times with Song Yan.

The longer he walked in the Cultivation World, the more he felt that his grandfather was no ordinary person.

The old man’s every word and action always gave him much inspiration.

He had also speculated whether his grandfather was an Immortal who had descended to the mortal world, but his bones were clearly and plainly lying in this small grave.

Heading north to Longquan Prefecture, he could also pass through Wuzhiping in Lin Prefecture, and visit his grandfather’s hometown along the way.

Song Yan turned to Xiao He: "Do you want to go back to Xiao Gu Mountain to take a look?"

"Hmm..." Xiao He pondered for a moment: "No, I don’t think so."

There was actually nothing worth lingering over on Xiao Gu Mountain.

What made her happy there was actually her companions rushing from town to play with her.

Now that Yan Yan was by her side, and all her companions were gone, there was naturally no need to go back.

"Alright."

He took one last look at the thatched cottage scenery, then stepped down the mountain.

One person and one snake left Stone Ridge... Qiyuan Prefecture, among the four prefectures and thirteen prefectures of Chu State, had the largest territorial area, and was one of the most prosperous prefectures besides the capital of Chu State in Lin Prefecture.

The source of this prosperity largely came from Yunxi City.

Yunxi City was located in the southeastern part of Chu State, in the middle reaches of the Wuxi River.

The river here formed a natural bend, the river channel was wide and gentle, and the plains on both banks had fertile soil.

To the north, it was backed by the remnants of Qingluan Mountain, with gentle slopes and dense forests; to the south, it connected to the Nianmu Mountain plain, with interwoven water systems.

It was a famous land of fish and rice in Chu State.

"What a truly good place."

The young man in plain clothes slowly entered the city, muttering to himself.

He slightly raised his head, revealing his handsome face, still with a hint of childishness.

Before descending the mountain, the Sect had specially sent an inner Disciple to assign him a patrol mission.

The so-called patrol mission, as the name suggested, was to take advantage of traveling down the mountain to inspect various places under the Sect’s jurisdiction.

To see if there were any Enshrinements who were derelict in their duties, or any Cultivation Families causing harm to a region.

However, such things usually didn’t happen much.

So, most of the time, it was just a matter of Sect Disciples staying for a few days when passing through, reminding these Enshrinements not to act recklessly.

This inspection mission had also become the Sect’s suggested "best travel route" for Disciples.

In Yunxi City, in addition to the Enshrinements of the Cave Abyss Sect, the Profound Origin Sect also had Enshrinements here.

Normally, they would naturally not interfere with each other, but now the situation between the two Sects was rather delicate, and he didn’t know how these Enshrinements were faring.

"Waterways are accessible in all directions, official roads radiate to all sides, so prosperous..."

"No wonder Linxi County could develop into such a large city just because it was closest to Yunxi City."

Sometimes, when he saw something novel, Song Yan would also stop and watch.

There were countless boatmen at the Yunxi City dock.

Hundreds of cargo ships loaded and unloaded goods such as ceramics, rice, and grain and oil at the dock every day.

"Xiao He, when we leave here in a few days, let’s take a boat."

Song Yan suddenly said, looking at the bustling scene at the dock.

Xiao He nodded: "Okay, I’ve never been on a boat before."

Business was important, so he decided to find the local Enshrinement first.

"The Enshrinement of this Yunxi City actually lives in the City Lord’s Mansion..."

He didn’t know if it was Song Yan’s illusion, but he always felt that the Chu State court and these Immortal Enshrinements were getting closer and closer.

To avoid unnecessary trouble, he found an uninhabited place, changed into the Cave Abyss Sect’s Daoist robe, and resumed his Sect attire.

He arrived in front of the City Lord’s Mansion.

"...Your Excellency is?"

The two mansion guards saw Song Yan’s attire, and then looked at his refined temperament, and swallowed the original four words "Who is coming" back into their stomachs.

They politely inquired about his purpose.

"Cave Abyss Sect inner Disciple, here for inspection."

Song Yan revealed his identity, concisely: "Please, both of you, summon Enshrinement Liu Xincheng."

The two mansion guards dared not neglect, nodding repeatedly.

One of them remained on guard, while the other led him into the reception hall of the mansion.

The mansion guard informed an old housekeeper of Song Yan’s identity, then returned to stand outside the mansion.

The old housekeeper immediately arranged for servants to report to the City Lord and the Enshrinement, then respectfully entertained Song Yan.

As soon as he sat down, servants brought tea and pastries.

He took a sip of tea; it was indeed excellent tea, but unfortunately, it was not spirit tea, containing no spiritual power, and always felt bland.

Song Yan also tasted a piece of pastry; it melted in his mouth and tasted excellent.

Although one could only completely abstain from grain after Foundation Establishment, ever since he entered the Late Stage of Qi Refining, his reliance on food had already diminished to the extreme.

Occasionally, when he ate in the Sect, it was always spirit rice and spirit meals.

He tasted a little, then closed his eyes to meditate.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a middle-aged man in splendid clothes walked in from outside.

Accompanying him was an elegant and noble woman, and a girl of twelve or thirteen.

The gazes of the three fell on Song Yan, their expressions varied.

The middle-aged man stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said: "Greetings, Immortal. This humble one is Zhao Huaiyuan, the undeserving City Lord of Yunxi City."

"This is my wife, née Chen, and my young daughter Yihuan."

Song Yan felt a little dazed.

This was the City Lord of Yunxi City in Chu State; it was no exaggeration to say he held a high position and great power.

However, merely because he was a Cultivator, he was so respectful, not daring to be negligent.

Song Yan nodded: "City Lord Zhao need not be so. I am merely passing through here to conduct a Sect inspection, which has nothing to do with city governance."

"Just have Enshrinement Liu Xincheng come to see me."